The Long-Term Illinois River Fish Population
Monitoring Program
F-lOl-R-8
Annual Report
Todd M. Koel, Richard E. Sparks, K. Douglas Blodgett,
and Scott D. Whitney
Illinois Natural History Survey
LTRMP Havana Field Station
704 North Schrader Avenue
Havana, Illinois 62644-1055
Center for Aquatic Ecology Technical Report 97/14
The Long-term Illinois River Fish Population
Monitoring Program
F-101-R-8
Annual Report
Todd M. Koel, Richard E. Sparks, K. Douglas Blodgett, and Scott D. Whitney
Illinois Natural History Survey
LTRMP Havana Field Station
704 North Schrader Avenue
Havana, Illinois 62644-1055
December 1997
Dr. R.E. Sparks, Principal Investigator '4^.D. BfodgOt, Co-Investigator
Center for Aquatic Ecology Center for Aquatic Ecology
Illinois Natural History Survey Illinois Natural History Sun/ey
Dr. T.M. Koel, Project Manager Dr. D.P. Philipp, Director
Center for Aquatic Ecology Center for Aquatic Ecology
Illinois Natural History Survey Illinois Natural History Survey
DISCLAIMER
The findings, conclusions, and views expressed herein are those of the
researchers and should not be considered as the official position of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUPPORT
The Long-term Illinois River Fish Population Monitoring Program (F-101-R) is
supported by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (P.L. 81-681, Dingell-
JohnsonAA/allop-Breaux).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Between 26 August and 1 9 September 1 996, 26 sites on the Illinois River
Waterway and one site on Reach 26 of the Mississippi River were electrofished to
monitor fish communities. A total of 5,062 fish representing 41 species (plus two
hybrids) from 1 1 families were collected during 24.75 h of sampling. Our monitoring
indicated the abundance of an important forage species, gizzard shad, and the
continued recovery of several sport fishes such as white bass and bluegill. Gizzard
shad represented 48.4% of the total catch in numbers and was present at all 27
sites, followed by white bass (8.9%, 20 sites), and bluegill (8.1%, 25 sites).
Common carp and goldfish, often regarded as indicators of polluted or degraded
river environments, comprised only 6.4% and 0.2% of the total catch, respectively.
Mud darter and silverband shiner were collected for the first time during project F-
1 01 -R sampling from Henry Island (RM 1 93.9, Peoria Reach). The sample from
Pekin (RM 1 54.9, La Grange Reach) yielded the most fish (524, 1 0.4% of the total
collected from all 27 sites). Species richness at sites ranged from 20 at Detweiller
Marina (RM 170.7) in Peoria Reach to 8 at Bulls Island (RM 240.7) in Starved Rock
Reach. Species richness of the lower, middle, and upper wateoA/ay was 23, 38, and
23, respectively. In 1996 we noticed a decline in small cyprinid abundance in the
upper waterway compared to that observed in 1 995. Although emerald shiner
ranked second by relative abundance (7.7%) in Starved Rock Reach, the catch in
numbers (CPUEn) was only 11.50 in 1996, compared to 438.50 in 1995. Also,
bullhead minnow were not collected in any upper waten^'ay reach in 1996, and
bluntnose minnow were not collected in either Starved Rock or Marseilles reaches.
Emerald shiner and bullhead minnow were among the most abundant species
collected in these reaches in 1995. Important sportfish species such as channel
catfish and largemouth bass were collected in all three waterway segments in 1996.
Channel catfish CPUE^ in Alton Reach (lower waterway) was 19.40, which is the
highest catch rate for this species in this reach since 1989. Largemouth bass
CPUEn was highest in Peoria Reach (7.38) but catches were also high in Dresden
and Alton Reaches where CPUE^ was 6.00 and 5.80, respectively. As in previous
years, common carp continued to be an abundant species in La Grange Reach of
the middle watenA'ay (CPUEn=36.36), but the species was not abundant in the upper
wateoA'ay. However, when considering the catch rate in terms of pounds of fish
collected per hour (CPUEw), common carp was the dominant species in all except
Starved Rock and Alton Reaches. Common carp CPUEw ranged from 71.15 in La
Grange Reach to 4.93 in Starved Rock Reach. Smallmouth buffalo CPUE^ was
highest in Starved Rock Reach, and channel catfish CPUE^ was highest in Alton
Reach, at 8.97 and 19.06, respectively. Sediment-contact fishes (e.g., common
carp) had a higher incidence of externally-visible abnormalities than water-column
fishes (e.g., bluegill). The highest incidence occurred in the upper waterway, where
34.2% of benthic fishes had abnormalities in 1 996. This indicates that stressful
factors are associated with sediments in the Chicago-Joliet area.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title and Signature Page
DISCLAIMER
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUPPORT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TABLE OF CONTENTS iv
LIST OF TABLES vi
LIST OF FIGURES vii
INDEX TO JOB ACCOMPLISHMENTS viii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
INTRODUCTION 1
STUDY AREA AND METHODS 1
DATA ANALYSIS 4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5
A CONDITIONS DURING ELECTROFISHING RUNS 5
B ELECTROFISHING RESULTS 6
Numbers of Fish Collected 6
Catch Rates in Number of Individuals Collected
per Hour by Reach 13
Alton (lower river) 13
La Grange (middle river) 16
Peoria (middle river) 17
Starved Rock (upper river) 17
Marseilles (upper river) 18
Dresden (Des Plaines River) "19
Catch Rates in V^/eight (pounds) Coilected
per Hour by Reach 19
Alton (lower river) 20
La Grange (middle river) 20
Peoria (middle river) 23
Starved Rock (upper river) 23
Marseilles (upper river) 24
Dresden (Des Plaines River) 24
Fish Health Determined by External Visual
Inspection 25
CONCLUSIONS 25
LITERATURE CITED 29
APPENDIX A 31
APPENDIX B 33
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Station information and characteristics during sampling
in 1995 2
Table 2 Number of individuals of each fish species collected on the
Mississippi River (Bnckhouse Slough) and the lower Illinois
River (Alton Reach, RM 0-80) in 1996 8
Table 3 Number of individuals of each fish species collected on
La Grange Reach (RM 80-158) of the middle Illinois River
(RM 80-231) in 1995 10
Table 4 Number of individuals of each fish species collected on
Peoria Reach (RM 158-231) of the middle Illinois River
(RM 80-231) in 1995 11
Table 5 Number of individuals of each fish species collected in
Starved Rock, Marseilles, and Dresden Reaches of the upper
Illinois Waterway (RM 231-280) in 1996 12
Table 6 Number of individuals of each fish species collected per
hour of electrofishing at Reach 26 of the Mississippi River
(Bnckhouse Slough) and at six reaches of the Illinois River
Waterway in 1 996 14
Table 7. Species ranked by relative abundance in number of fish
collected per hour for 1 995 15
Table 8 Pounds of each fish species collected per tiour of
electrofishing at Reach 26 of the Mississippi River
(Bnckhouse Slough) and at six reaches of the Illinois River
Waterway in 1 995 21
Table 9 Species ranked by relative abundance in pounds offish
collected per hour for 1 995 22
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 . Three segments of the Illinois River sampled by
electrofishing to monitor fish communities in 1996 3
Figure 2. Percent of sediment-contact and v/ater-column fishes
with externally visible abnormalities (e.g., sores, eroded
fins) collected from the Illinois River Waterway in 1 996 26
INDEX TO JOB ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Job V Prepare electrofishing equipment and tram staff 5
Job 2 Sample by electrofishing at 27 sites along the Illinois
River Waterway and Reach 25 of the Mississippi River 5
Job 3 Update computer database 5
Job 4 Analyze data 5
Job 5 Presentation of results 33
^Job numbers and titles refer to the F-101-R-5 annual work plan dated 12 January 1995
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Project F-101-R Is supported by the Federal Aid to Sportfish Restoration Act
(P.L 81-681, Dingell-JohnsonAA/allop-Breaux), with funds administered by the US
Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
Mr^ Larry Dunham (IDNR); Mr Bill Bertrand (IDNR): Mr, Michael Sweet (IDNR); Dr.
Lorin Nevling, Chief of the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), Dr. Edward
Armbrust, Acting Chief (INHS), and Dr. David Phillip, Director of the Center for
Aquatic Ecology (INHS); provided administrative support, Ms Cammy Smith of the
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program Field Station at Havana provided
secretarial support Mr Mark Hoecker and Mr. Thomas Lerczak assisted with the
field work This survey was originally conceived and initiated in 1957 by the late Dr.
William C. Starrett.
INTRODUCTION
This report presents a summary of data collected in 1996 during segment 8 of
federal aid project F-101-R, The Long-term Illinois River Fish Population Monitoring
Program, Previous summaries of the long-term data set, begun in 1957, were given
by Sparks and Starrett (1975), Sparks (1977), Sparks and Lerczak (1993), Lerczak
and Sparks (1994), and Lerczak et ah (1994). The annual reports for project
F-101-R will continue to build on previously collected data with major analyses of the
long-term data set scheduled for the five-year project report at the end of segment
10. The format used in this report is patterned after previous annual reports of this
project (Lerczak et al 1 993, 1 994, 1 995, and 1 996) to allow for easy comparisons of
data among years Data analyses are more limited in scope for this report due to the
departure of the project manager Tom Lerczak and the resulting increased workload
associated with acquiring and training new staff.
STUDY AREA AND METHODS
Twenty-six fish sampling sites were at fixed locations along the Illinois
WatenA/ay as defined by Sparks and Starrett (1975 347) and Lerczak et al (1994:9)
(Table 1 ) Twenty-four of the sites were along the Illinois River, with two additional
sites on the lower Des Plaines River, which along with the Illinois River is part of the
Illinois WatenA'ay. One additional site was on the Mississippi River (Figure 1).
Seventeen of the sites were in side channels, the rest of the sites were in other
habitats, including the mam channel border, or in a combination of habitat types (see
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Des Plaines
River
Mississippi
River
Lake Michigan
RM 80 Ml
La Granae-
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''(bri
AA111
Peoria
A/M10
Metro
>A19
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Kankakee
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Lower Rivet
MR
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St, Louis
Metropolitan
Area
W'abash
River
.vT-"--
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River
Lerczaket al. 1994:9).
Following water quality measurements (e.g., dissolved oxygen) at each site,
fish populations were sampled by electrofishing from a 16-ft (5-m) aluminum boat
using a 3000-watt, three-phase AC generator. Sampling at each site typically lasted
one hour. Stunned fish were gathered with a dip net (1/4-in [0.64-cm] mesh) and
stored in an oxygenated livewell until sampling was completed Fish were then
identified to species, measured, inspected for externally visible abnormalities, and
returned to the water. More details on the electrofishing method and equipment are
given by Lerczak et al. (1994).
DATA ANALYSIS
For each sample, numbers of individual fish and total weights (pounds) were
tallied for each species. Fish catch rates v/ere calculated as the number of
individuals collected per hour of electrofishing (CPUE,J and as weight in pounds
collected per hour of electrofishing (CPUE^v). Catch data, both numbers of
individuals and pounds collected per sample and hour, were summarized and
reported by collection site. Data from sites also were grouped into reaches defined
by navigation dams (Figure 1) as follows: Alton Reach, river mile (RM) 0-80; La
Grange Reach, RM 80-158; Peoria Reach, RM 158-231, Starved Rock Reach, RM
231-247; Marseilles Reach, RM 247-271.5; and Dresden Reach, RM 271.5-286 on
the Des Plaines River. Data from reaches were combined further into three groups
(lower and middle Illinois River segments, and the upper Illinois Waterv/ay segment)
defined by their location along the river and by the amount of off-channel habitat
accessible to fish per unit length of hver (Lerczak et al. 1994:5 and Figure 1).
Lerczak et al. (1994, 1995, and 1996) showed that river fish communities of the
three segments differed substantially enough to give segment designations
biological meaning.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Job 4)
Before the fish sampling season began, all equipment was tested and
repaired as necessary. Due to the impending departure of project manager Lerczak.
training for new staff was more intensive than that needed in recent years; new staff
were trained in electrofishing methods and safety procedures (Job 1).
All 27 sites were sampled between 26 August and 19 September 1996 (Job
2); total sampling time was 24.75 h (Table 1 ). Collected data were entered into a
computerized data base (R-Base software), rectified with original field data sheets,
and entry errors were corrected as necessary (Job 3). The original data sheets
were stored in a flame-resistant vault at Forbes Biological Station, Havana (Job 3).
A. CONDITIONS DURING ELECTROFISHING RUNS
Sampling was conducted in full daylight between 7:40 AM and 7:25 PM (Table
1) The ranges for physical measurements collected during the 1996 sampling
season were as follows: air temperature, 59.9-83.3 ^'F; v/ater temperature, 66.6-85.7
°F; dissolved oxygen concentration, 3.6-13.9 ppm, Secchi disk transparency, 6.7-
28.7 in; conductivity, 380-760 umhos/cm, surface velocity, 0.0-1 .5 ft/s; water depth,
0.1-5.0 ft. All values were within the ranges expected based upon previous sampling
(see Lerczak et al. 1994:17-24, Lerczak et al. 1995:7, and Lerczak et al. 1996:2) All
sites were sampled with water temperatures and river levels (Table 1 ) within our
established criteria (see Lerczak et al. 1994:10-13).
B. ELECTROFISHING RESULTS
The following data summaries proceed through several levels of detail First,
data on the numbers of individual fish (by species) collected at each of the 27 sites
are presented. Then, catch rates of the number of individuals collected per hour of
electrofishing are calculated for each of the seven navigation reaches. Similar
summaries are presented for fish weights. Results conclude with fish health as
determined by external visual inspection. Common names used throughout this
report follow Robins et al. (1991). Common and scientific names are listed in
APPENDIX A
Numbers of Fish Collected
In 1996 we collected a total of 5,062 fish representing 41 species (plus tv/o
hybrids) from 1 1 families during 24.75 h of sampling at 26 sites on the Illinois
Waterway and a single site on the Mississippi River. Gizzard shad was the most
abundantly collected species, representing 48.4% of the total catch, followed by
white bass (8.9%), bluegill (8.1%), freshwater drum (6.4%), common carp (6.4%),
and emerald shiner (3.3%). Gizzard shad v;ere collected at all 27 sites, and bluegill
were taken at 25 sites The sample from Pekin (RM 154.9, La Grange Reach)
yielded the most fish (524, 1 0.4% of the total collected from all 27 sites). The most
species collected at a single site was 20 from Detweiller Marina (RM 170.7) in
Peoria Reach. The fewest species collected at a single site was eight from Bulls
Island (RM 240.7) in Starved Rock Reach. Of the 41 species and 2 hybrid crosses^
10 species and one hybrid cross were collected at only a single site, and five
species were collected at only two sites. Seven species and one hybrid cross were
represented by single individuals, and only two individuals were collected for each of
seven species.
From 26 sites on the Illinois Waten,vay, v^'e collected 5,009 fish representing
41 species (plus two hybrids) from 1 1 families during 23.75 h of sampling At
Brickhouse Slough on the Mississippi River (RM 204.9), we collected 53 fish
representing 12 species from seven families (Table 2) This year's sample from
Brickhouse Slough provided fewer fish and relatively low diversity compared with
other samples collected at this site since 1991 (see Lerczak et al. 1994:49, 1995:9,
1996:8).
On the lower Illinois River, v/e collected 578 fish representing 23 species
(Table 2). The total abundance and species richness were slightly lower than
observed in 1995, when 751 fish representing 25 species v^ere collected (Lerczak et
al. 1996:8) In 1996, species richness ranged from 14 at Mortland Island (RM 18.8).
Dark Chute (RM 25.0), and Hurricane Island (RM 27.5) to 15 at Crater-Willow
Islands (RM 30.0) and Big Blue Island (RM 58.5). The species richness at Dark
Chute was greater than observed in recent years; only 1 1 species were collected in
1 994. and 1 3 were collected in 1 995 However, in 1 996 fewer species were
Table 2 Number of individuals of each fsh species collected on the Mississippi River (Brickhouse Sloug
and the lower Illinois River (Alton Reach. RM 0-80) in 1996,
River Mile a
ind Hours Fished
Miss River
Lc
ver Illinois Ri
ve:
205 1
188
25
275
30
58 5
Total
Species
1 CO
1 00
1 00
1 00
1 CO
1 CO
500
Clupeidae
gizzard shad
2
6
33
60
2^
5
129
skipjacl< herring
1
1
threadfin shad
23
7
2
8
40
Cyprinidae
common carp
9
6
5
2
8
15
36
emerald shiner
1
4
2
3
grass carp
1
red shiner
1
2
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo
3
2
5
3
13
river carpsucker
7
1
shorthead redhorse
1
1
smallmouth buffalo
6
S
3
1
7
3
23
Ictaluridae
channel catfish
2
15
15
23
24
20
97
flathead catfish
4
Atherinidae
brook silverside
1
Percichthyidae
v/hite bass
5
5
28
13
6
7
63
Centrarchidae
black crappie
1
3
1
6
2
13
bluegill
6
10
22
20
10
15
77
green sunfish
1
1
largemouth bass
1
3
5
7
8
6
29
orangespotted sunfish
1
2
white crappie
2
1
Percidae
sauger
1
Sciaenidae
freshwater drum
12
2
6
5
5
4
22
Total individuals
53
SO
132
145
117
93
573
Total species/hybrids
12/0
1 4/0
14'0
14/0
1 5/0
15/0
23/0
collected at Crater-Willow Islands and Big Blue Island than in 1995, when 16 and 19
species were found, respectively.
On the middle Illinois River, we collected 3,731 fish representing 38 species
plus one hybrid (one bluegill x green sunfish) (Tables 3 and 4) From six sites on La
Grange Reach (RM 80-158), 1732 fish representing 28 species were collected
From eight sites on Peoria Reach (RM 1 58-231 ), 1 999 fish representing 34 species
and the bluegill x green sunfish hybrid were collected. Species richness ranged
from 9 at Hennepin Island (RM 207.9) to 20 at Lambie's Boat Harbor (RM 170 7);
habitat diversity was low at Hennepin Island and sampling time was only 0.5 h. In
1995, 15 species were collected at Hennepin Island during 0.5 h (Lerczak et al
1996:10). A substantial reduction in species richness was also observed at Clark
Island (RM 215.3); 14 species were collected in 1996, whereas 21 and 19 species
were collected in 1994 and 1995, respectively. However, even though species
richness was lower at Clark Island in 1 996, the total abundance of fishes collected
was higher than in recent years In 1996, 347 individuals v/ere collected compared
to 325 in 1995 and 165 in 1994. A species never before collected during Long-term
Illinois River Fish Population Monitoring, the mud darter, v/as taken at Henry Island
(RM 193.9) of Peoria Reach.
. On the upper waterway in 1996 we collected 700 fish representing 23 species
plus one hybrid (three carp x goldfish) (Table 5). This is substantially fewer fish
than collected in 1995, when 3,827 individuals representing 34 species and two
hybrids were collected (Lerczak et al. 1996:1 1). Large declines in cypnnids were
Table 3 Number of individua:s cf each f ;h species collected on La Grange Reach (RM 80-1 58) of the middl;
Illinois River (RM 80-231) in 1993
Rive
r M.le and H:
:L:rs Fished
La
Grange
Reach
Middle
River
85 4
94 8
1C7.1
113
143 2
154 9
Total
Total
Species
1 00
1 00
1 00
1 GO
50
1 00
5 50
12 50
Lepisosteidse
shortnoss gar
1
1
1
Clupeidae
gizzard shad
40
49
93
173
76
257
693
1899
skipjack herring
1
4
5
12
threadfin shad
2
13
15
44
Cyprinidae
bullhead minnow
1
1
1
common carp
23
110
25
23
7
6
200
252
emerald shiner
32
7
4
1
44
1 14
golden shiner
1
1
6
goldfish
1
1
2
6
red shiner
9
2
11
12
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo
3
6
13
1
3
29
55
river carpsucker
1
1
1
3
13
shorthead redhorse
1
1
1
4
10
smallmouth buffalo
4
8
3
3
3
11
32
87
Ictaluridae
black bullhead
1
1
2
channel catfish
4
4
10
1
4
3
25
35
flathead catfish
1
1
2
3
Cyprinodontidae
blackstripe topminnov/
1
1
C
2
2
Atherinidae
brook silverside
3
2
1
6
6
Percichthyidae
v/hite bass
IS
29
43
45
4E
125
309
377
Centrarchidae
black crappie
10
1
15
c
34
67
bluegill
30
8
23
30
c
1
92
282
g-een sunfish
1
2
25
largemouth bass
2
c
5
-
16
75
v/armouth
3
1
5
6
v/hite crappie
3
7
Percidae
sauger
3
3
5
11
15
Sciasnidae
freshv/ater drum
13
12
31
34
2
90
182
252
Total individuals
195
23:
273
35 1
147
524
1732
3731
Tots' species/hybrids
1 9/0
13;;
17/:
1£.'0
15
23 '0
3 5/1
10
Number of individjais cf each fish species collected on Peona Reac
emerald shmer
fathead minnow
golden shiner
goldfish
red shmer
Silverband shiner
spottail shiner
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo
golden redhorse
fiver carpsucker
shorthead redhorse
smallmouth buffalo
ictaluridae
black bullhead
cha
^sh
flathead catfish
yellow bullhead
Percichthyidae
white bass
Centrarchidae
black crappie
bluegill
bluegillx greens
green sunf.sh
largemoulh bass
orangespotted sunfish
smallmouth bass
fish
Reach P.ive
Total Tot3
Species
75
1 CO
I CO
1 CO
C
1 CO
50 1
7 CO
12 50
Clupeidae
gizzard shad
S7
1C3
7 =
-14
J3
52
202 2-
r 1 205
1599
skipjack hernn;
1
1
C
3 7
12
threadrin shad
■i
6
3
1 J
2
- 23
44
Cyprindae
13
3
10
■i
1
7 52
252
v/hite crappi;
Percidae
logperch
mud darter
sauger
waLeyc
Sciaenidae
freshwater di
Total Individua
Total species.'f
Table 5 Number of individuals of each fish species couected in St3.-.ed Rock, Ma-se.iles, and Dresden Reaches of the
upper Illinois Waterway (RM 231-280) in 1996
R,\
:er W.le anc
1 Hoj:s Fished
Upper
VVaten.vay
Sta-vsd R
ock
M;
>rsei!les
Dresden
Total
240 7
241 4
243
249 8
250 7
277.3
279 9
Species
1 00
1 00
75
50
1 CO
1 00
1 CO
6 25
Ciupeidae
gizzard shad
124
94
93
8
17
72
7
420
threadfin shad
1
4
5
Cyprinidae
bluntnose minnov/
2
2 -
carp X goldfish
1
1
1
3 — Cxac
common carp
5
1
4
4
2
2
10
23_t.a*p
emerald shiner
8
15
1
2
15
1
43 '.
golden shiner
1
1 -
goldfish
1
1
2-^
red shiner
8
12
2
1
23 ■ ^
spottail shiner
6
6
2
3
7
9
33 —
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo
1
1
1
1
4
river carpsucker
1
2
3
shorthead redhorse
1
1
2
smallmouth buffalo
8
6
e
2
1
25
Ictaluridae
channel catfish
1
1
1
C
1
4 —
yellov/ bullhead
1
1
Centrarchidae
bluegill
1
1
4
5
3
24
5
43-
green sunfish
3
8
11
largemouth bass
1
3
7
1
1
9
3
25-
orangespotted sunfish
1
2
2
3
4
12 —
rock bass
1
3
4-
smallmouth bass
1
c
1-
v/hite crappie
1
c
1-.
Sciaenidae
freshv/ater drum
1
1
1
1
4
Total individuals
i55
125
37
143
55
700
Total species/hybrids
e;o
1 1 /o
12/i
13.0
1-;:
14,".
14;"i
23/1
7^ - v%
noo
/7
,. '^/noo-o.5%
12
most notable. In 1996, only 2 bluntnose minnow, 43 emerald shiner, and 23 red
shiner were collected compared to 407 bluntnose minnow, 1076 emerald shiner, and
161 red shiner in 1995. Also, no bullhead minnow were collected in 1996 whereas
616 were collected on the upper waterway in 1995. Other relatively large declines in
abundance were gizzard shad and bluegill; 420 gizzard shad were collected in 1996
compared to 1369 in 1995, and 43 bluegill were collected in 1996 compared to 500
in 1 995 Abundances of fishes at sites in 1 996 were more similar to those observed
in 1 994 in the upper watervv'ay, although overall species richness in 1 996 (23) was
much lower than in 1994 (31). Species richness in 1996 ranged from 8 at Bull's
Island (RM 240.7) to 14 at the mouth of the Du Page River (RM 277.3) and Treats
Island (RM 279.9). The species richness of upper waterway sites were more similar
to sites on the lower Illinois River (Table 2), although species composition at lower
river sites was somewhat different than that of the upper waterway.
Catch Rates in Number of Individuals Collected per Hour by Reach .
In the following data summary, discussion is restricted either to species that
each separately accounted for over 1 0% of the total catch or to species that were of
special significance. At all reaches in 1996, the gizzard shad ranked first by relative
abundance in number offish collected per hour.
Alton (lower river). The 95% lists (species were added to the list until 95%
of the total catch rate in numbers was obtained) for Alton, La Grange, and Peoria
Reaches were similar, although CPUEfj varied among reaches. Eleven species
accounted for 94.5% of the total catch in Alton Reach (Tables 6 and 7). Overall,
13
Table 6, Number of individuals of each fish species collected per hour of electrofishing (CPUw.,) at Reach 25 of the Mississippi
River (Brickhouse Slough) and a! six reaches of the Illinois Rr/er Waterway in 1 995-
^5,60
125 00
150 75
C40
091
CSS
SCO
2 73
3 53
Reach and Hours Fished
Star.ed Overall
Reach 25 A'.'.jn La Grange Peoria Reck Marse:::es Dresden CPUE..
Spec.es 100 5 CC 5 5J 7 CO 2 CO 2 25 2 CO 2-175
Lepisosleidae
shortnose gar C 15 04
Clupeidae
gizzard shad 2 OC
skipjack herring
threadfin shad
Cyprinidae
bluntnose minnov/
bullhead minnow
carp X goldfish
common carp 9 00 7 20
emerald shiner 1 00 1 60
fathead minnow
golden shiner
goldfish
grass carp 0-20
red shiner 60
silverband shiner
spottaii shiner
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo 2 60
golden redhorse
river carpsucker 7 00 20
smallmouth buffalo 6.00 4.60
shorthead redhorse 50
Ictaluridae
black bullhead 16 13
channel catfish 2 00 19 40 4 73 1.13
flathead catfish G £0 35 13
yellov/ bullhead 13
Cyprinodontidae
blackstripe topminnov/ 35
Atherinidae
brook silverside 20 1 .09
Percichthyidae
white bass 5 00 13 50 55 1 3 6 50
Centrarchidae
black crappie 2 50 5 18 4 13
bluegill 6 00
bluegill X green sunfish
green sunfish 1.00
largemouth bass 1 03
orangespo'ted sunfish 1 00
rock bass
smallmouth bass
warmouth
white crappie
Percidae
logperch
mud darter
sauger
35 35
5 50
3 00
8 00
13
11.50
le
53
35
50
2 00
13
013
10 00
1 25
3 00
527
3 33
C25
55
1 25
50
5S2
6 83
7 00
73
75
33 03
39.50
93.99
057
051
2 CO
3 60
1 CO
03
0.04
51
l.OO
0.12
5 13
6 CO
1313
1 54
8 50
6 75
04
50
23
1 00
0.32
0.04
1 54
1.54
0.04
5 54
SCO
1 74
1 54
50
2.95
0.08
1 03
097
5 13
0,50
5.70
51
50
0,61
0.08
1 03
50
5.53
0.23
50
0.03
0,06
0.23
15 73
23 75
13
35
2 53
2 91
7 33
75
C 13
091
55
50
013
013
2 00
53
323
450
15.43
04
5 5j
154
6 00
5.25
3 50
85
1 50
015
03
0.24
0.44
0.04
0.04
0.69
0.03
Sciaenidae
freshwater drum
12 00
4 4j
33 C9
13 25
1 54
50
1317
Total number per hour
53 00
1 1 5 5C
31491
249 00
14: 53
102 55
101 50
204 52
Number of species'hvbnds
120
23
25 3
34 I
12'0
17'1
19 1
41/2
14
Table 7. Species ranked by relative abundance in number of fish collected per hour for 1996,
Species were added to the list in descending order of abundance until 95% of the total catch
for that reach v/as obtained. Percentages are in parentheses.
Rankings
by Reach
Starved
Species
Alton
La Grange
■ Peoria
Rock
Marseilles
i Dresden
Clupeidae
gizzard shad
1 (22 3)
1 (40. Oj
1 (60.3)
1 (73.4)
1 (61.5)
1 (38.9)
threadfin shad
5 (6,9)
10(1.5)
8 (2.0)
Cyprinidae
common carp
6(6.2)
3(11.5)
8(2 6)
5 (2.0)
4(5 0)
5(5.9)
emerald shiner
6(2 5)
4(3 5)
2(7.7)
7 (1 5)
3(8 4)
red shiner
3 (6.7)
7(1.5)
spottail shiner
5(2 0)
3(5.5)
4 (7 9)
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo
10(2 2)
8 (1.7)
11 (1 4)
7(1.5)
smallmouth buffalo
8 (4 0)
7(1.8)
7(2 8)
4(4.7)
4 (5.0)
Ictaluridae
channel catfish
2 (15.8)
9(1.5)
Percichthyidae
white bass
4 (11. S)
2 (17.8)
5(3.4)
Centrarchidae
black crappie
10(2 2)
8 (2.0J
9(1.7)
bluegill
3(13.3)
5(5.3)
2(9.5)
2 (6.0)
2(14.3)
green sunfish
6(5.4)
largemouth bass
7(5.0)
6(3.0)
5(4 5)
5(5.9)
orangespotted sunfish
6 (2.0)
7(3 4)
rock bass
9(1.5)
Sciaenidae
freshwater drum
9 (3.8)
4 (10.5)
3(5 3)
7(1.5)
Number of fishes
accountina for QSVc
11
10
11
6
11
10
15
CPUEn was 1 15.60 in 1996. This is similar to catches observed in other years since
project F-101-R began in 1989; a low CPUEn of 75.05 occurred in 1992 and a high
of 150.02 occurred in 1995 (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996). In 1996, the
highest CPUE,.j for all species was 25.80 for gizzard shad, which made up 22.3% of
the total fish collected in this reach. Channel catfish ranked second with a CPUEf^ of
19.40 (16.8% of the total), the highest catch rate of this species since 1989. The
CPUENOf bluegill was 15.40 (13.3% of the total) and of white bass was 13.60
(11.8% of the total) From 1991-1995 the bluegill was the highest ranked species on
this reach of the river. In 1 990, as in 1 996, the gizzard shad was the highest ranked
species. In 1989, the freshwater drum was the highest ranked species; in 1996 this
species was ranked ninth and made up only 3.8% of the total fish collected in Alton
Reach.
La Grange (middle river). Ten species accounted for 94.6% of the total
catch in La Grange Reach (Tables 6 and 7) Overall, CPUE.^was 314.91 in 1996,
which was the highest observed in this reach since 1 989 (Lerczak et al. 1 994, 1 995,
and 1996). In 1996, the highest CPUE^jforall species was 126.00 for gizzard shad,
which made up 40.0% of the total fish collected in this reach. The catch rate of
gizzard shad greatly exceeded other catches on this reach since 1989; the previous
high occurred in 1995 when CPUEfj was 88.73 Low CPUE,j of gizzard shad in La
Grange Reach during the first 8 segments of project F-1 01 -R was 5.80 in 1 992
White bass ranked second with a CPUEfj of 56.18 (17.8 % of the total). The catch
rate of white bass in La Grange Reach has increased each year since 1 992 when
16
CPUEfj was only 1 .80 Common carp ranked third with a CPUEf, of 36.36 (1 1.5% of
the total). Carp have ranked 1-3 in La Grange Reach during every segment of
project F-101-R except 1991.
Peoria (middle river). Eleven species accounted for 95.0% of the total catch
in Peoria Reach (Tables 6 and 7). Overall, CPUE.j was 249.88 in 1996. This catch
rate is the second highest observed at this reach since 1 989 (CPUE^j was 291 .00 in
1995) (Lerczak et al, 1994, 1995, and 1996). In 1995, the highest CPUE^j for all
species was 1 50.75 for gizzard shad, which made up 60.3% of the total fish
collected in this reach. The gizzard shad catch rate of Peoria Reach was higher
than that of all other reaches and was also relatively high in 1995 (CPUEfj was
125.86). Bluegill ranked second with a CPUE,.j of 23.75 (9.5% of the total), and all
other species made up only 6% or less of the total catch in Peoria Reach. The
bluegill catch rate was slightly lower than in other recent years. (CPUEfj has been
31.94 or greater since 1992).
Starved Rock (upper river). Six species accounted for 96.5% of the total
catch in Starved Rock Reach (Tables 6 and 7). Overall, CPUE^j was 148.50 in 1996.
This catch rate is much lower than the overall CPUEfj of 867.50 observed in 1995,
but is higher than all other years of project F-1 01 -R for StaPv'ed Rock Reach
(Lerczak et al, 1994, 1995, and 1996) High CPUEfj in 1995 was primarily due to
gizzard shad and an abundance of emerald shiner and several other cyprinids. In
1996, the highest CPUE,, for all species was 109,00 for gizzard shad, which made
up 73.4% of the total fish collected in this reach. Emerald shiner ranked second by
17
relative abundance (7.7%) but CPUEn was only 11 .50 in 1 996, compared to 438.50
in 1 995. As during all other segments of project F-1 01 -R, common carp CPUEn was
low in 1996 (3.00); the highest catch rate of carp since 1989 in Starved Rock Reach
was only 9.00 per hour (in 1993). Unlike other recent years, bullhead minnows were
not collected in any upper river reach in 1996. Bluntnose minnows were not
collected in either Starved Rock or Marseilles reaches.
The overall species composition of the upper watenz/ay was different than the
lower and middle river in that no channel catfish, white bass, or black crappies were
collected in the upper watenA'ay, but each made the 95% list for the lower and middle
river (Table 7). Bluntnose minnow, goldfish, red shiner, spottail shiner, green
sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, and rock bass made the 95%o list for the upper
waterway but did not occur in reaches of the lower and middle river.
Marseilles (upper river). Eleven species accounted for 95.5% of the total
catch in Marseilles Reach (Tables 6 and 7), Overall, CPUEfj was 102.56 in 1996,
This catch rate is much lower than the overall CPUE,, of 356.80 obsen/ed in 1995,
but is similar to other years of project F-1 01 -R for Marseilles Reach (Lerczak et al.
1994, 1995, and 1996). High CPUEfj in 1995 was primarily due to gizzard shad and
an abundance of small cyprinids and bluegill In 1996, the highest CPUEf^ for all
species was 63.08 for gizzard shad, which made up 61.5% of the total fish collected
at this reach. This catch rate is the second highest observed at this reach since
1989 (CPUEf.j was 90.00 in 1995) (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996). Bluegill
ranked second by relative abundance (6.0%) but CPUE,j was only 6.15 in 1996,
18
compared to 42.40 in 1995. The iargemouth bass catch rate on this reach was 4.62
and was comparable to other reaches sampled in 1996 (high Iargemouth bass
CPUEfj was 7.38 in Peoria Reach).
Dresden (Des Plaines River). Ten species accounted for 93.6% of the total
catch in Dresden Reach (Tables 6 and 7). Overall, CPUEf, was 101.50 in 1996.
This catch rate is much lower than the overall CPUEfj of 600.00 observed in 1 995,
and IS the lowest for Marseilles Reach since 1992 (Lerczak et al 1994, 1995, and
1996) High CPUEfj in 1995 was primarily due to an abundance of bluntnose and
bullhead minnows and bluegill; CPUEfj of bluntnose minnow was only 1.00 in 1996,
and no bullhead minnow were collected. The highest CPUEfj for all species was
39.50 for gizzard shad, which made up 38.9% of the total fish collected at this reach.
Gizzard shad CPUE;.j was similar to other segments of project F-1 01 -R. Highest
gizzard shad CPUEfj for Dresden Reach was 50.50 in 1995. Bluegill ranked second
with a CPUEf. of 14.50 (14.3% of the total), and all other species made up only 8.4%
or less of the total catch at Dresden Reach The bluegill catch rate v/as much lower
than observed in 1995 (83.00), but was comparable to other recent years. The catch
rate of common carp of 6.00 per hour in Dresden Reach was similar to all other
waterv/ay reaches (CPUEfj ranges 3.00 at Starved Rock to 7.20 at Alton, except for
La Grange Reach, where CPUE,j of common carp was 36.36)
Catch Rates in Weight (pounds) Collected per Hour by Reach .
In the following data summary, discussion is restricted to species that each
separately accounted for over 10% of the total catch and to species that were of
19
special significance. A 95% list was produced for each reach, in which species were
ranked by relative abundance (pounds per hour) and added to the list until 95% of
the total catch rate for that reach was obtained. Overall, these data indicate that fish
communities of the Illinois River in terms of weight continue to be dominated by
common carp, bigmouth buffalo, and channel catfish in the lower and middle river,
and common carp, smallmouth buffalo, gizzard shad, and largemouth bass in the
upper waterway.
Alton (lower river). Nine species accounted for 95.2% of the total catch by
weight in pounds per hour (CPUE^,J in Alton Reach (Tables 8 and 9). Channel
catfish CPUEwWas highest at 19.06 (32.5% of the total), which is the highest CPUEw
for this species observed in Alton Reach since the beginning of project F-101-R; low
CPUE^v^or channel catfish was 4.45 in 1989 (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996).
Common carp ranked second with a CPUEv., of 1 5.71 (26.7% of the total) which is
much higher than occurred in 1 995, when common carp CPUE^.,- was 6.63. Bigmouth
buffalo ranked third with a CPUE^of 6.61 (1 1.3% of the total). Bigmouth buffalo
CPUE^,; was much lower than in 1995, when the species ranked first with a CPUE^^
of 18 27, but is similar to catches of other segments of project F-101-R. Largemouth
bass CPUEy^ was 5.75 (9.8% of the total) All other species accounted for less than
ten percent of the total catch by weight.
La Grange (middle river). Six species accounted for 94.2% of the total catch
by weight in La Grange Reach (Tables 8 and 9). This is notably fewer species than
20
Table 8 Pounds of each fish species collected per hour of electrcrish.ng (CPUE,-.) a: Rea:h 25 cf !."e f.':ss>ss:ppi Rive
(Brickhouse Slough) and at six reaches of the Illinois Rr.er Wa'er.va, m 1995 Founds pe- hour less than 01 are
indicated by 00 ____^
Reach and Hours Fished ~
0.
f.la-se.lles Dresden CF
Reach and Hours Fishe
Sta-.ed
:h25
Alton
La Gra-.ge Pe^na Rock
1 GO
5 00
5 50 7 00 2 00
5-4
2 45
3 77
09
017
05
02
0C-!
03
Species
Lepisosteidae
shortnose gar
Clupeidae
gizzard shad
skipjack herring
threadfin shad
Cyprinidae
bluntnose minnow
bullhead minnow
carp X goldfish
common carp
emerald shiner
fathead minnow
golden shiner
goldfish
grass carp
red shiner
silverband shiner
spottai! shiner
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo
golden redhorse
river carpsucker
shorthead redhorse
smallmouth buffalo
Ictaluridae
black bullhead
channel catfish
flathead catfish
yellow bullhead
Cyprinodontidae
blackstripe topminnow CO 0.00
Atherinidae
brook silvsrside 00 00
Percichth/idae
white bass 0-4 2 C9 2 94 3 a= 2 IS
Centrarchidae
black crappie 1,10 1 39 72 C 7-4
bluegill 57 79 C 53 117 C5 C -4-4 95 C 77
bluegill X green sunHsh 02 C 1
green sunfish 01 01 43 32 15
largemouth bass 114 5 75 192 3 75 1 01 2 97 2 11 3 22
orangespotted sunfish COO 09 07 10 C 04
rock bass 15 51 05
sma'Imouth bass 03 53 05
v/armoutn 09 02 0.02
white crappie 03 01 15 25 03
Percidae
logperch 00 00
mud darter CO O.CO
sauger 01 14 03 04
v/alleye 01 00
Sciaenidae
5 71
71 15
14 05
4 93
01
03
04
00
04
001
02
02
09
1 30
02
00
00
001
551
15 £5
11 29
05
0.09
10
1 25
72
65
55
25
3 35
2 21
5 81
8 97
00
03
9 05
5 32
1.57
54
55
14
05
GOO
1 54
2 73
2 32
07
001
02
0.01
COO
coo
70
1 79
021
S 55
14 74
25 10
00
05
03
COO
001
01
34
05
025
01
001
00
001
02
00
2 52
4S
5 23
02
0C5
0.55
35
17
37
4 19
07
05
0.02
1 25
1.00
5 83
13
14
01
freshwater drum
24
33
2 52
1 z'
1 25
85
1 41
To!3' pojids pe' hc-r
3k;
55 74
5:45 19
5^ 24 5 ■
25 3?
5^3'
21
Table 9. Species ranked by relative abundance in pounds of fish collected per hour for 1996.
Species were added to the list in descending order of abundance until 95°/'c! of the total catch
for that reach v/as obtained. Percentages are in parentheses.
Rankings
by Reach
Starved
Species
Alton
La Granae
Peoria
Rock
Marseilles
Dresden
Clupeidae
gizzard shad
6 (2.3)
5(7.5)
3(14.6)
5(5.3)
2 (10.4)
Cyprinidae
carpx goldfish
7(2.8)
4 (6.8)
common carp
2(25.7)
1 (65.9)
1 (27.9)
2(25.1)
1 (35.2)
1 (55.9)
grass carp
7 (2.2)
Catostomidae
bigmouth buffalo
3(11.3)
2(14.7)
2(22 4)
4 (10 7)
9(1.8)
river carpsucker
9 (2.5)
5(3.7)
smallmouth buffalo
5(5.5)
3(11.5)
1 (45.6)
2(17.0)
Ictaluridae
channel catfish
1 (32.5)
3(4.9)
8(3.1)
6(5.1)
5 (3.8)
Percichthyidae
white bass
6 (3.6)
5 (2.7)
4 (7.7)
Centrarchidae
black crappie
8(1.9)
bluegill
4 (3.7)
10(2.3)
6 (3.7)
largemouth bass
4(9.8)
6 (7.4)
4(5,1)
3(12.1)
3 (8.0)
rock bass
8(1.9)
Sciaenidae
freshwater drum
9(1.4)
7(3.3)
6 (5.1)
7 (3.2)
Number of fishes
accountinq for 95%
9
6
10
5
8
9
22
in 1 995 when 1 species made the 95% list for weight. Common carp CPUE^ was
highest at 71.15 (65.9% of the total). This is the highest CPUE^v observed in La
Grange Reach for this species since the beginning of project F-101-R; low CPUE^.
for common carp was 6.33 in 1991 (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996). Bigmouth
buffalo ranked second with a CPUEwOf 15.86 (14.7% of the total), a rate similar to
other segments of project F-101-R
Peoria (middle river). Ten species accounted for 95 6% of the total catch by
weight in Peoria Reach (Tables 8 and 9) Common carp CPUEw was highest at
14.05 (27.9% of the total). This catch is similar to other segments of project F-101-
R; high common carp CPUE^^ was 24.48 in 1 989 and low CPUE^ was 7.34 in 1 995
(Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996). Bigmouth buffalo ranked second with a
CPUEw of 1 1 .29 (22.4% of the total) and smallmouth buffalo ranked third with a
CPUE,^ of 5.81 (1 1.5% of the total) Bigmouth buffalo ranked first in catch by weight
in 1 995 but CPUE,^, was lower (7.63, 1 9.32% of the total). Smallmouth buffalo catch
in 1996 was similar to 1995, when CPUE^v was 4.37.
Starved Rock (upper river). Five species accounted for 94. 1 % of the total
catch by weight in Starved Rock Reach (Tables 8 and 9) Smallmouth buffalo
CPUE^,, was highest at 8.97 (45.6% of the total); this is the only reach where this
species ranked highest in 1996. These results were similar to other segments of
project F-101-R. In 1995 smallmouth buffalo CPUE^., was 8.42, lowCPUE^.was 0.47
in 1989 and high CPUE^.^was 12 11 in 1994 (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1995).
23
Common carp ranked second with a CPUEw of 4.93 (25.1 % of the total) and gizzard
shad ranked third with a CPUE;v of 2.88 (14.6% of the total). These species also
ranked in the top three in catch by weight in 1995. Unlike in the lower and middle
river, the bigmouth buffalo is not a dominant species in Starved Rock Reach. Also,
unlike in 1995, small cyprinid species (emerald shiner) were not high enough in
abundance to make the 95% list by weight.
Marseilles (upper river). Seven species plus one hybrid (carp x goldfish)
accounted for 94.3% of the total catch by weight in Marseilles Reach (Tables 8 and
9). Common carp CPUEw was highest at 8.65 (35.2% of the total) which is much
lower than observed for early segments of project F-101-R; common carp CPUEw
was 15.31 in 1989 and 22.67 in 1990 (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996).
Smallmouth buffalo ranked second with a CPUE^of 4.19 (17.0% of the total),
largemouth bass ranked third with a CPUE^^ of 2.97 (12.1% of the total), and
bigmouth buffalo ranked forth with a CPUEwOf2.62 (10.7% of the total).
Dresden (Des Plaines River). Eight species plus one hybrid (carp x goldfish)
accounted for 95.5% of the total catch by weight in Dresden Reach (Tables 8 and 9).
Common carp CPUE^^ was highest at 14.74 (55.9% of the total) This is similar to
other segments of project F-1 01 -R Low common carp CPUE^; v/as 9.81 in 1 992 and
high CPUEwWas 20.97 in 1994 (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996). Gizzard
shad ranked second with a CPUE^v o^ 2.73 (1 0.4% of the total) and largemouth bass
ranked third at 2. 1 1 (8.0% of the total), Dresden Reach was the only one with rock
24
bass in its 95% list (CPUE^ was 0.51 , 1.9% of the total).
Fish Health Determined by External Visual Inspection .
Sediment-contact (benthic) fishes (e.g., common carp) had higher incidences of
externally-visible abnormalities (eg , sores, eroded fins) than water-column fishes
(eg., bluegill) (Figure 2). A total of 108 fishes collected in 1996 had abnormalities, of
which 77 (71.3%)) were sediment-contact fishes. There was a longitudinal
(upstream-downstream) gradient in the percentage of fishes with abnormalities, with
highest incidence in the upper waterway, particularly in Dresden Reach. Of the 76
benthic fishes collected in the upper wateiway, 26 of them (34.2%) had external
abnormalities. In tne middle and lower wateoA'ay, only 5.9%o and 3.0% of benthic
fishes showed abnormalities, respectively. This trend was documented during
previous years also (Lerczak et al. 1994:68, 1995:39, 1996:29). Incidence of water-
column fishes with abnormalities was only slightly higher (2.7%) in the upper
v/aterv/ay than in the middle (0.3%) and lower (1.1%) waterway. _^_i;'w3 __ '"^f^
CONCLUSIONS ^;.^^.f rr _^f ^ ., ^^
>-'y^ U.L- ^'~ ^7% '■'^•'^
Samples collected by electrofishing on the Illinois River Waten<vay during
August and September 1995 provided evidence that fish communities in the lower,
middle, and upper waterway are substantially different in terms of species
composition by number and by weight. Of 76 species and 3 hybrids collected
previously during segments of project F-101-R, 41 species and 2 hybrids were
collected in 1996. Th,e mud darter has not previously been collected during Long-
C^ ^^'^-^<- Gaa^'A ^CuJV:^ ^^'^'^-
r^ijudMjL 25
to
_o
"to
E
o
c
<
c
CD
O
o
40
30
20
^ Sediment-contact Fishes
n Water-column Fishes
Lower Middle Upper
Illinois River Water^vay
Figure 2 Percent of sediment-conta:' and water-column fishes v/ith externally visibk
abnormalities (eg , sores, eroded fins) collected from the Illinois River Waten.vay in
1995. Data are grouped by river segment as in Figure 1, Numbers above each bar
are the total fish collected in each category for the specified river segment. Habitat
associations for species are defined in APPENDIX A
26
term Illinois River Fish Population Monitoring, and the silverband shiner has not
been collected during earlier segments of project F-101-R. Overall, results from this
year's sampling were similar to data collected in recent years. Numbers of
individuals and pounds of each species collected have varied, however, both
temporally (among years) and also spatially (among sites) along the watePA'ay.
Although gizzard shad ranked first in number offish collected per hour in all
reaches, numbers of other small forage species and also of large benthivores and
piscivores varied among reaches. The relatively high numbers of gizzard shad in
the watePA'ay, most of which were small enough to be vulnerable, should provide an
excellent forage base for sport fishes such as largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Largemouth bass were collected in all reaches, but catches in numbers were highest
in Peoria, Dresden, and Alton Reaches. Smallmouth bass were collected (in low
abundance) only in Peoria and Starved Rock Reaches. It is possible that
smallmouth bass populations are under represented in our samples; this species is
known to avoid habitats occupied by largemouth bass (Becker 1983) and may not
occupy side-channels during late summer. An important sauger fishery exists below
the Peoria Dam but Vv'e have collected only 18 sauger in the La Grange Reach
during project F-101-R sampling (six sauger were collected in 1994, one in 1995,
and 11 in 1996).
The highest densities of sportfish species exist in the lower and middle
watePA'ay. Three of the top four ranked species in Alton Reach are highly favored by
27
anglers (channel catfish, bluegill, and white bass) The catch of channel catfish was
the highest observed since 1989. Although not as popular with anglers, the
bigmouth buffalo is an important species in terms of CPUEw in the lower and middle
waterway; smallmouth buffalo is important in terms of CPUE^ and CPUEn in the
upper watePvvay. Common carp CPUEf^ was highest in La Grange Reach of the
middle waterway, but continued to be low in the upper waterway; common carp
CPUEyv was high in all reaches.
We noticed a drastic decline in abundances of small cyprinid species such as
emerald shiner, bullhead minnow, and bluntnose minnow in the upper waten<vay.
Populations of these species in terms of abundance are known to vary each year.
Only by continued monitoring will we be able to determine if our samples have
represented a true decline in cyprinid abundance at the upper waterway sites. It is
unlikely that piscivore abundance in the upper waterway is high enough to limit these
cyprinid populations, especially with the co-occurring gizzard shad abundance.
Most likely, the environmental conditions were not favorable during spawning or for
overwintering of these species in 1 996 which reduced their overall abundance.
28
LITERATURE CITED
Becker, G.C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison.
1052 pp.
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. 1993. The long-term Illinois River
fish population monitoring program (F-101-R). Annual Report to the Illinois
Department of Conservation. Aquatic Ecology Technical Report 93/3. Illinois
Natural History Survey, Champaign. 76 pp.
Lerczak, T.V and RE Sparks 1994. Fish populations in the Illinois River. Pages
239-241 in K.P. Pabich, editor. The changing Illinois environment: critical trends,
volumes, ecological resources. ILENR/RE-EA-95/05. Illinois Department of Energy
and Natural Resources, Springfield.
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. 1994. The long-term Illinois River
fish population monitoring program (F-101-R). Final Report to the Illinois
Department of Conservation. Aquatic Ecology Technical Report 94/5. Illinois
Natural History Survey, Champaign. 105 pp.
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. 1995. The long-term Illinois River
fish population monitoring program (F-101-R-6). Annual Report to the Illinois
Department of Conservation. Aquatic Ecology Technical Report 95/4. Illinois
Natural History Survey, Champaign. 50 pp.
Lerczak, T.V., RE. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. 1996. The long-term Illinois River
fish population monitoring program (F-101-R-7). Annual Report to the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources. Aquatic Ecology Technical Report 96/2. Illinois
Natural History Survey, Champaign. 38 pp.
Pflieger, W.L. 1975, The fishes of Missouri Missouri Department of Conservation.
343 pp.
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and
W.B. Scott 1 991 . Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States
and Canada Special Publication number 20. American Fisheries Society,
Bethesda, MD.
Sparks, R.E. 1977. Environmental inventory and assessment of navigation pools
24, 25, and 26, Upper Mississippi and lower Illinois Rivers: an electrofishing survey
of the Illinois River, Special Report No 5 Water Resources Center, University of
Illinois, Urbana. 82 pp.
29
Sparks, R.E. and W.C. Starrett. 1975. An electrofishing survey of the Illinois River,
1959-1974. Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 31:317-380.
Sparks, R.E. and T.V. Lerczak. 1993. Recent trends in the Illinois River indicated
by fish populations. Aquatic Ecology Technical Report 93/16. Illinois Natural
History Survey, Champaign. 34 pp.
30
APPENDIX A. Fish species collected during Long-term Resource Monitoring of the Illinois Waterway,
1957-19V6. Common nanies marked by an asterisk indicate species that were collected from 1989 through
1996 during federal aid project F-101-R. Common and scientific names are from Robins et al. (1991).
Habitat associations are based on behavioral descriptions from Pflieger (1975) and communications uith
I NHs fi?hgri? ? bi<?t93 ist?, .
Fami ly Name
Common Name
(B = ber
Habitat Association
ic, blank = pelagic)
Lepi sosteidae longnose gar*
shortnose gar
spotted gar*
Lgp' S9Jtgv? pla':'??':9'pu?
goldeye*
mooneye*
H'odon alosoides
H i odon terqjsus
Anqui Ua rostrata
gi zzard shad*
skipjack herring*
threadfin shad*
bigmouth shiner*
bluntnose minnow*
bul Ihead minnow*
common carp*
common carp x
goldfish*
central stoneroller*
common shiner
creek chub
emerald shiner*
fathead minnow*
ghost shiner
golden shiner*
goldfish*
grass carp*
hornyhead chub
Mississippi silvery
pugnose mir>now
red shiner*
redfin shiner
ribbon shiner
river shiner*
sar>d shiner*
spot fin shiner
si Iver chub*
silverband shiner*
si Iver jaw minnow
spottail shiner*
steelcolor shiner
striped shiner
suckermouth minnow*
bigmouth buffalo*
black buffalo*
black redhorse
golden redhorse*
highfin carpsucker*
northern hog sucker*
qui 1 1 back*
river carpsucker*
river redhorse*
shorthead redhorse*
si Iver redhorse
smal Imouth buffalo*
whi te sucker*
Dorosoma cepediani.
Alosa chrvsochlori
Dorosoma
petenense
Notropis
dorsal-
is
Pimephales viqil
,ax
Carassius auratus
Campostoma anomal un
Luxi I us cornutus
? efnotilu £ atrpmacMlatu?
Notropis atherinoides
Pimephales promelas
Notropis buchanani
Notemiqonus crvsoieucas
Carassius auratus
Ct^nophgrynqodpn idsiis
Nocomis bjquttatus
Hyboqnathus nuchal is
Qpsopoeodus efli i I i a e
C Ypr'P?U a iMtren?'?
Lythruru? umbpatilis
Lvthrurus fumeus
Notropi s blennius
Notropis stramineus
Cypr inel la spi loptera
MacrhyboDsis storeriana
Not ropi s shumardi
Notropi s buccatus
Notropi 5 hudsonius
Cyprinella whipplei
Phenacobius mi rabi 1 1 s
I ct iobus cypr inel I us
Ictiobus niqer
Hoxostoma duquesnei
Hoxostoma erythrurijTi
Carpiodes vet i f er
Hypentel iun nigricans
Carpiodes cyprinus
Carpiodes carpio
Hoxostoma carinatim
Hoxostoma macrolesidotun
Hoxostoma anisurim
1 c t i obus bubal us
Catostonius ti ^fnmer^oni
31
AppgrxijA A, CcnnnuM.
Fami ly Name
Common Name
Scientific Name
Habitat Association
benthic, blank = pelagic)
black billhead*
blue catfish
brown bul Ihead*
channel catfish*
flathead catfish*
freckled madtom
tadpole madtom
white catfish
yel low bul Ihead*
Ameiurus melas
Ictalurus furcatus
Ameiurus nebulosus
Ictalurus punctatus
Pylodictis olivaris
Noturus nocturnus
Noturus qyrinus
Ameiurus catus
Ameiurus natal is
Esocidae
grass pickerel*
northern pike
Esox amencanus vermiculatus
Salmonidae rainbow trout
Percopsidae trout-f^erch
Cyprinodontidae blackstripe topminnow*
Poeciliidae western mosqui tof ish*
Atherinidae brook silyerside*
'ercichthyidae striped bass
striped bass x
white bass*
white bass*
white perch*
yel low bass*
Horone saxatilis
M. Chrysops
Horone chrysops
Horone americana
prone
Centrarchidae
black crappie*
bluegi 1 1*
green sunfish*
green sunfish x
bluegi 1 1*
green sunfish x
orangespotted sunfish
green sunfish x
punpkinseed
largemouth bass*
longear sunfish*
orangespotted sunfish*
orangespotted sunfish x
bluegill
pujrpkinseed*
redear sunfish*
rock bass*
smal Imouth bass*
spotted sunfish*
warmouth*
white crappie*
Pomoxi s
Lepomis m^crochi rus
Lepomis cyanel lus
Leoomis cyanel lus x
L. [nacrgchjrgj
Lepomis cyanel lu? x
L. humi lis
Leocmis cyanel lus x
I. qibbo^ys
HicroDterus salmoides
Lepomis mega I Otis
Lepomis huni I is
Lepomis huni I is x
I,, macroch i rus
ibbos
microloohus
Amblopli tes rupestri
Lepomis punctatus
Lepomis qulosus
Pomoxis annularis
bluntnose darter
johnny darter
logperch*
mud darter*
sauger*
slenderhead darte
wal leye*
yellow perch*
Etheostoma chlorosomun
Etheostoma nigriin
Percina caprodes
Etheostoma asprigene
Stizostedion canadense
Percina phoxocephala
Perca f lavescens
Sciaenidae
;shwater drun*
Aplodinotus grunniens
32
Appendix B (Job 5). Publications, reports, and presentations which resulted from
research conducted during segments 6, 7, and 8 of project F-1 01 -R, the Long-term
Illinois River Fish Population Monitoring Program (funded under Federal Aid in
Sportfish Restoration Act, P.L. 81-681 , Dingell-Johnson, Wallop-Breaux).
I. Publications
Lerczak, T.V., RE. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett, 1994. Some upstream-to-
downstream differences in Illinois River fish communities. Transactions of the Illinois
State Academy of Science 87(Supplement):53. (Abstract)
Lerczak, T.V. 1995. Fish community changes in the Illinois River, 1962-1994.
American Currents (Summer Issue).
Lerczak, T.V. 1995. The gizzard shad in nature's economy. Illinois Audubon.
(Summer Issue). Reprinted in Big River 2(12);1-3.
Lerczak, T.V. and R.E. Sparks. 1995. Fish populations in the Illinois River. Pages
7-9 in G.S. Farris, editor. Our living resources 1994. National Biological Survey,
Washington, D.C
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. 1995. Long-term trends (1959-1994)
in fish populations of the Illinois River. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of
Science 88(Supplement):74. (Abstract)
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. 1995. Long-term trends (1959-1994)
in fish populations of the Illinois River with emphasis on upstream-to-downstream
trends. Proceedings of the Mississippi River Research Consortium 27:62-63.
Lerczak, T.V. 1995. Illinois River fish communities: 1960s versus 1990s. Illinois
Natural History Survey Report No. 339.
Raibley, P.T., K.D. Blodgett, and R.E. Sparks. 1995. Evidence of grass carp
{Ctenopharyngodon idella) reproduction in the Illinois and upper Mississippi Rivers.
Journal of Freshwater Ecology 10:65-74.
Sparks, R.E. 1995. Value and need for ecosystem management of large rivers and
their floodplains. Bioscience 45:168-182.
Sparks, R.E. 1995. Environmental effects. Pages 132-162 In S.A. Changnon,
editor. The great flood of 1993. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
(UCAR) and Westview Press.
33
II. Technical Papers (presenter in bold)
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. Some upstream-to-downstream
differences in Illinois River fish communities. Contributed paper presented at the
Illinois State Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Galesburg, Illinois, 7 October
1994,
Sparks, R.E. Large river-floodplain ecosystems of the midwest: status, trends, and
management needs. Presented at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
"Ecological Seminar Series" held in Chicago, Illinois, 14 March.
III. Poster Presentations (presenter in bold)
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. Long-term trends (1959-1993) in fish
populations of the Illinois River. Poster presented at the 56th Midwest Fish and
Wildlife Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, 4-7 December 1994.
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. Long-term trends (1959-1994) in fish
populations of the Illinois River. Poster presented at the Illinois State Academy of
Science Annual Meeting, Charleston, Illinois, 6 October 1995.
Lerczak, T.V., R.E. Sparks, and K.D. Blodgett. 1995. Long-term trends (1959-
1994) in fish populations of the Illinois River with emphasis on upstream-to-
downstream differences. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Mississippi
River Research Consortium, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 26-28 April 1995.
IV. Popular Presentations
Lerczak, T.V. Wintering bald eagles along the Illinois River and factors affecting
their environment. Invited presentation to the Peoria Audubon Society, Peoria,
Illinois, 6 March 1995.
Lerczak, T.V. Seminar on Illinois River environmental issues. Conducted for
Biology 140 (Human Ecology) at Spoon River College, 27 June 1994.
Lerczak, T.V. A photo trip up the Illinois River. After dinner talk presented to
Havana Rotary Club, Havana, Illinois, 17 April 1995.
Blodgett, K.D. Ecosystem management for the Illinois River; can biological integrity
be restored? Invited lecture for Earth Day celebration at Spoon River College,
Canton , Illinois, 19 April 1995
34
V. Data Requests
1 . Sam Cull, City of Peru, Electric Department, Box 299, 1415 Water St , Peru,
Illinois 61354
2. Stanley and Associates, Muscatine, Iowa
3. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island
35
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